Ethereum and Bitcoin Face $1.61B Options Expiry: Will Bears or Bulls Win?

The crypto market is gearing up for a thrilling showdown as a massive $1.61 billion worth of Bitcoin and Ethereum options contracts are set to expire this week.

Traders are on the edge of their seats, anticipating a high-stakes battle between call and put options that could send prices soaring or plummeting. With so much money riding on the outcome, the crypto world is holding its breath.

Will bulls or bears triumph? Read on to find out.

Expiry Surge Under Focus

According to data from Deribit, a total of 18,271 Bitcoin options contracts are set to expire today. The put-to-call ratio currently stands at 0.90, with the maximum pain point—the price at which most options contracts expire worthless—set at $62,000. Of the total expiring contracts, $1.10 billion are tied to Bitcoin, while Ethereum options account for $510.08 million.

For Ethereum, 212,175 contracts are nearing expiration, featuring a put-to-call ratio of 0.40 and a maximum pain point of $2,450. The number of expiring contracts has seen a sharp increase compared to last week, signaling a rise in market activity.

Key Price Levels

A crucial “max pain” point for Bitcoin sits at $62,000, about $1,500 above the current price level. This is the price where most options are expected to expire in the red, likely leading to market turbulence as traders shift their positions. Ethereum, meanwhile, is trading at $2,407—slightly below its maximum pain point.

Despite the recent dip below $60,000 for Bitcoin, the outlook remains generally positive. The expiring options suggest that traders are still hopeful for a rebound.

Bitcoin’s Future Is Bright!

Open interest (OI), which measures the total number of active contracts, also draws attention. A substantial $790 million in OI remains positioned at the $70,000 strike price, while OI at the $80,000 level has dropped to $723 million.

Even at the ambitious $100,000 mark, $964 million in contracts remain open, reflecting lingering optimism for a significant upward movement in Bitcoin’s price.

The stakes are high, and the outcome could be game-changing. What do you think lies ahead?